Family, faith, friends, theater, and animals all provided tremendous joy to Dorothy Pierce Hardy throughout her life. And for the joy that she received, she wanted to say thank you.
Often times the thank you came in the form of a personal visit or note, and often times it came in the form of a financial contribution. When the Westminster Presbyterian Church was in the midst of a renovation project, she eagerly offered to purchase the organ. Shortly after the organ was installed, family members were encouraged to come and hear its magnificent sound. In fact, some family members believe Dottie “went to heaven the day the organ was put in.”
Gifts from Dottie Hardy to the retired actors fund in New York were commonplace as were gifts to various animal shelters throughout the communities in which she lived. Dottie adopted a manatee in Florida and generously supported the Standard Bred Retirement Foundation that cares for retired race horses. And, unknown to many, she supported for years, a girl named Mia through the Save the Children Foundation.
Although her first racehorse, Snibbor, (her father’s name spelled backward), was no champion, Dorothy loved him nonetheless. Perhaps horseracing reminded her of her youth when she spent many weekends taking horse-drawn sleigh rides with her family in Buffalo, N.Y.
Other horses Mrs. Hardy owned over the years were more successful, including Delmonico Hanover, Pompano Flash, Steeler Spur, Pegasus Spur, and Cameron Spur. Fellow racehorse owner, Nan Cameron, fondly remembers her friend, “Dottie was a dear friend. She was so much fun to be with because she always saw the bright side of life.”
Another activity that brought much enjoyment to Dottie was bridge. She eagerly looked forward to the many bridge competitions in which she participated and took great pride in the master points she earned.
Mrs. Hardy was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church choir and served as an elder of the Upper St. Clair church. She was a trustee of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and volunteered with the South Side Hospital women’s auxiliary that her mother, Marguerite, had founded. She was married 50 years to Joe Hardy of Eighty Four Lumber fame.
In celebration of her life and her life-time of giving, two funds have been created at the WCCF. The Dorothy Hardy Charitable Funds I&II were created by her son, Joseph A. Hardy IV and his wife, Shirley, and by her son, Paul Hardy, and his wife, Bonnie. These grants, and those that will follow, continue Dottie Hardy’s legacy of caring and giving.